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General Lionel & Model Train Discussion => General Lionel Model Train Discussion => Topic started by: Joeponcho on December 13, 2020, 05:56:05 pm

Title: Re: Lionel Type VW transformer whistle switch
Post by: Joeponcho on December 13, 2020, 08:48:29 pm

Thanks Larry, I’ll try that in the morning.

Title: Re: Lionel Type VW transformer whistle switch
Post by: TrainLarry on December 13, 2020, 06:27:59 pm

Welcome to the forum!

Your problem could be caused by either of two things - the whistle rectifier could be bad in your transformer, or the wires from the transformer to the track may need to be reversed.

Reverse the wires first to see if the whistle blows on your engine. If it does not, the whistle rectifier may need to be replaced.

The whistle rectifier puts a DC voltage on the track. You need to set your voltmeter to read DC volts to check if the whistle rectifier is working. You should read about 5 volts DC on the track when you press the whistle button.


Larry

Title: Lionel Type VW transformer whistle switch
Post by: Joeponcho on December 13, 2020, 05:56:05 pm

Hello. I have a Lionel Type VW transformer and the whistle switch does not activate the whistle on my Polar Express engine. I know the whistle in the engine works because it sounds with the transformer that came with the set (CW-80).
I put a meter on the VW transformer and the original CW-80 and got 8.5/11.3 VAC at 3/4 throttle- 8.5 Volts then 11.3 with whistle switch activated. Then I got the same results with the VW transformer. But the whistle works with the CE-80 but not with the VW. Why would that be?